Windows 10: Clean Install after upgrade

See other thread(s) where people are having issues getting the clean install to activate. Multiple websites have reported issues with clean installs even after doing the upgrade.

Reformating after windows 10 upgrade. - Windows 10 Forums

 

im gonna have to clean install. its acting funky. where can i find my activation key in windows for when it asks me in the installer?

 

I assume it's safe to use showkey. A tutorial on this site explains how to use it.
Product Key - View in Windows 10 - Windows 10 Forums

 

When you clean install after a successful upgrade (and activation), you will not need a key, at least that's what MS has stated.

When you upgrade a generic key is used to install: VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T
Once you activate a real key is used. Mine has not activated yet, keeps failing saying try later.

 

Can confirm. Did upgrade, checked activation then did a clean install. When it asks for a product key, choose SKIP. Verify activation once on desktop. I did mine very early in the day and only had to choose activate one time. YMMV since it's getting hammered. This works on the same PC that was upgraded first.

 

Incorrect. I have a SAMSUNG laptop running Windows 7 Home Premium. Windows 10 has been the biggest nightmare so far. Upgraded to Windows 10 but at first it downloaded Windows 10 Home Premium via Windows Update and failed to install three times. Contacted Microsoft they said to wait for notification on the bottom right corner when it ready.

Today upgraded to Windows 10. It failed to activate. Even when you click on activate it doesn't as it states try again later. Everything was slow and unresponsive. So factory reset to Windows 7 using recovery partition. Upgraded to Windows 10 this time round said activated.

OK, done a clean installation using Windows 10 Media Creation Tool. After installation and account setup. It stated activation required. Unless I am doing the clean installation wrong?

 

Try reading this? Windows 10 - Clean Install - Windows 10 Forums

 

well clean installed worked perfectly! it installed all y drivers for me except GPU driver. it also activated just fine. i put in my serial key diring installation though.

 

Glad it worked out. I already had my Nvidia drivers downloaded and ready. Just a small hiccup and MS thinking it knows best.

 

So far, PC seems much smoother....

Is there anything i have to do or optimize for installing on an SSD?

 

I don't have those drives so I can't say for sure. I have 2 Samsung EVO drives and didn't do anything. Doesn't Intel have Intel Tool Box?

Edit: Why yes it does!
Resource & Design Center for Development with Intel

 

FWIW, I had the following experience when attempting to do a clean install post upgrade.

1. Starting point was Windows 10 Pro build 240 from a week ago - probably should have let it be, but... *Smile

2. Let the Media Creation Tool do the automated upgrade (again, of my existing Insider 240 build).

3. Found that it left an undeletable Windows.old folder (DriverStore directories, etc.), so I decided to go the "clean" route.

4. Used Media Creation Tool to download and generate a Windows 10 Pro ISO.

5. Did a clean install, added some necessary chipset and wifi drivers, then attempted to activate. The activation dialog then reported that it couldn't proceed and that my key had been "blocked."

6. Only recourse was to do a clean install of Windows 8.1 (using my Pro key, since my laptop's BIOS was configured for Home), then upgrade again - this time using the ISO image on a USB key (vs. another long download).

I now have Windows 10 Pro up and running and activated - along with another undeletable Windows.old folder. *Sad

I'm loathe to try another clean install. Everyone keeps saying it should work, especially on a machine that has already completed the upgrade process more than once. However, I can't help but worry that I'll end up in the same situation again and just have to repeat my 8.1-10 upgrade process. But that stubborn Windows.old folder really bothers me, so....hmmmm. *Smile

UPDATE: Running ShowKey reveals that my OEM Key was for "Windows 8 RTM Core OEM: DM" while my Original Key was for "Windows 8.1 RTM Professional Retail." Interestingly, my Installed Key seems to be the same "-3V66T" key that everyone keeps talking about. Does any of this sound right? And was it a conflict between my OEM and Original keys (alone with trying to install from the Windows 10 Pro ISO) that caused my "clean" install attempt to fail?

Curiouser and curiouser....

RCK

 

Well truth be told, I did a clean install twice. I did it a second time after ran the secure erase on an SSD. Wanted a really clean install. *Wink

Don't have windows.old Have you tried Windows Disk CleanUp?

 

Yeah, Disk Cleanup was the first thing I tried. It took care of everything but a stubborn set of 4 driver files and their associated DriverStore folders. No matter what I do I can't get these deleted - this despite confirming that all 4 drivers are properly installed and being loaded from "C:\Windows\System32\Drivers" and not from the same structure under Windows.old.

Very puzzling...

Also, you mention doing a clean install. Was this an install of Windows 10 "Pro" or just the normal Windows 10 "Home" version? What version of Windows shipped with your PC?

RCK

 

i use this to delete windows.old file Download Unlocker 1.9.2 - FileHippo.com